Conveying apparatus.



No. 640,l02.

Patented Dec. 26, I899. J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 10, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

NR W QSR No. 640,l02 Patented Dec. 26, I899. J. T. COWLEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

(Apphcatwn f1 6. Oct. 10, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IWH

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEIV JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,102, dated December 26, 1899.

Application filed October 1 0,1 89 8.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. COWLEY, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in conveying apparatus in which a continuouslyrunning cable is employed, to which the carriers are attached and detached in their transmission between the stations.

The main object of my invention is to construct the carriers and stations so that the carriers may be sent from any station to any other station in either direction along the line without requiring the return of the carriers to the central station from which the carriers are then forwarded to the desired station, as is the casein cable carriers at present in use.

In cable cash-carriers to-day in use the carrier, with themoney of the purchaser, is put on the lower or forwarding track and upon gripping the cable the carrier is propelled t0 the cashiers station, where the change is made and the carrier, with the change, is returned along the upper or return track to the salesman from whom it came. In all the cable carriers at present in use the forwardingtrack, which is the one leading from the salesmen to the cashier, is not provided with any switching arrangement, as the carriers are intended to go only to the cashier fromthe salesmen in order that the money may pass through but one persons hands namely, the cashiers.

The apparatus disclosed in the present invention is especially adapted for the transmission of small parcels or messages in telegraph or newspaper offices and is known as the manuscript cable carrier. In such service it will be understood that it becomes necessary for different persons to send manufrom the cable cash-carrier, in which the forwarding-track leading from the salesmens stations converges to a central point known as the cashiers station. To carry out this Serial No. 693,141. (No model.)

object of the transmission of carriers between different persons, I provide both the upper or return and the lower or forwarding tracks with suitable switching mechanism which is substantially identical with that used in the cable carrier illustrated in my Patent No. 608,954, dated August 9, 1898, the only difference being that the switching-pins on the carriers are not fixed, as in said patent, but are capable of adjustment on the carrier, so that when it is desired to send a carrier to a certain station the switching-pins can be set to engage the switching-slats at such station and the carrier will switch at said station.

My invention consists in providing both the upper and the lower tracks with switching mechanism and two branch tracks, both of which branch tracks at each station are adapted to aline with a movable track-section on which the carriers are received from both branch tracks and supported after being switched at each station.

Myinvention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying myinvention, Figure 1 is a side view of one station of a cable carrier apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating five stations on a line. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent, respectively, top plan, side, and bottom views of the carrier. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the adjustable switching-pins. Fig. 8 is an end View of the carrier, showing the gripping mechanism. Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View on the line 4 4, Fig. 1, lookingin 0 the direction of the arrow.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 9, and 10, in which there is illustrated the third station on the line of a cable carrier apparatus, the track A, composed of the opposite rails A, is the lower track. 13 represents a branch track from the track A and is composed of the opposite rails B, which are curved downwardly, as shown, I00 and are secured at their. lower ends to the bracket F. The upper track 0 is composed of the opposite rails C, from which leads the branch track D, composed of the opposite rails D',which are curved d0wnwardly,and the lower ends are secured to the bracket F The rails B of the branch track B and the rails D of the branch track D aline with the track-section E, composed of the opposite rails E, so that carriers switched on either the lower track A or the upper track 0 pass from the branch rails onto the track-section and are supported thereon. At the extreme opposite ends of the track-section E is a bracket E to which the rails E are secured. This bracket is provided with slots E into which project the pins E secured to the lower ends of the brackets F and F To the upper end of each bracket E is secured the lower end of a coiled spring G, the upper end of which is secured to the pin G on the brack ets F and F Vhen it is desired to remove the carrier from the track-section E, the operator takes hold of the carrier and pulls down. This operation moves down the tracksection E,'so that the rails E and the rails B or D are not in alinement, the rails 'E being lowered, whereby the carrier is slid off from said track-section in a manner similar to that described in my said patent above mentioned. To the brackets F, F, and F the tracks A and O are secured and supported, and the branch track D is secured and supported by the bracket F and the branch track B is secured and supported by the bracket F. The mechanism at each station for switching the carriers is of the usual construction in cable systems and, as shown, consists for the upper track of a series of slats H, secured to the brackets F, F and F and for the lower track of a series of similar slats I, secured to the brackets F, F, and F The carrier J is made of leather and has at one end a cover J, which is held in place by a strip of leather J which passes along the under side of the carrier and over the pin J which projects up through said strip, and by pushing inwardly the latch J the opposite fingers J thereon come under the head of the pin and hold said cover closed.

K represents a platesecured on opposite sides of the cover, and its front ends are turned over, as shown at K, and riveted to the front plate K K is a lever provided with a pin K", upon which the gripping jaws K are pivotally mounted, and said lever is journaled in suitable lugs K on the side of the carrier. The jaws K are each provided with a cam-slot K, which works upon the stud K secured to and projecting from the front plate K and the cam-slots K are of such form that the jaws will be open as the lever K is lowered in po sition to engage with the propelling-cable L. When the lever K is released, the spring K located on the side of the carrier and around the lever K will operate to raise said lever and close the jawsupon the propelling-cable.

M is a plate secured to the bottom of the carrier by screws M, and said plate is provided with ears M which are adapted to pass under the rails of the tracks and hold the carrier thereon, the upper and lower tracks being bulged out at B and A to allow the ears M to pass between the rails, and upon the carrier being pushed forward said ears hold the carrier on the track. Around the screw M are secured antifriction-rollers M for the purpose of reducing the friction as the carrier travels along the tracks, around the corners, and into the stations.

The carrier thus far described forms no part of this invention and is substantially identical with the construction shown in my above-mentioned patent.

Secured to the front plate K is a top plate N, which extends over a portion of the top of the carrier. Secured to said plate at suitable distances is a series of slats N, which are beveled on their under sides and form, with the switching-slide O, a dovetailed joint to hold the said slide in the required position. At the end of each channel N between the slats, is a pin N against which the rear end of the switching-slide O abuts when inserted in said channel to hold said slide in its position.

Assuming that there is a central station and four branch stations, if the carrier is at the central station or station No. 5, as represented in Fig. 3, and the operator desires to send it to station No. 3 (shown in Figs. 1 and 2) he will place the switching-slide O in the position shown in Fig. 4, opposite the numerals 3 in the line of figures marked out, and upon engaging the carrier with the cable in the usual manner the carrier will travel along, and as it approaches the third station (shown in Fig. 1) it will pass between the opposite guides P and be steadied thereby, and passing said guides the pins 0 on the switching-slide 0 will enter between the diverging switching-slats H and H and the carrier will be switched onto the branch track D, and the end of the lever K will pass under the disengaging cam-rod Q, secured to the brackets F F, and said lever will be depressed and disengage the carrier from the propelling-cable L. The carrier being' disengaged will pass by its momentum around the curved portion D and onto the track-section E, the disengagement and switching of the carriers being substantially identical with the construction shown in my patent above referred to.

Assuming that the employee at station No. 1 is desirous of sending a carrier to station No. 3, the adjustable slide on the carrier would be placed opposite figure3 on thelineof figures marked in --that is, for the carriers going toward the central station on the lower track A. The carrier is then placed on the lower track, and the adjustable switching slide is in the proper position to pass by station No. 2 and engage With the diverting switching-slats at station No. 3, and the end of the lever K will pass under the disengaging cam-rod Q, secured to the brackets F and F, and said lever will be depressed and disengage the carrier from the propelling-cable C, and said carrier will then pass around the branch track B onto the track-section E. If it be desired to send the carrier to station No. 4 instead of to station No. 3, the adjustable switching-slide would be placed opposite the figure 4 on the line of figures marked in. This would place the slide 0 in position to pass by stations Nos. 2 and 3 and engage with the diverting switching-slats at station No. 4; or if it be desired to send the carrier to station No. 5 the adj ustable switching-slide 0 would be placed opposite figure 5 on the line of figures marked in. While the switching-slide O is in this position it does not engage with any of the diverting switching-slats, but allows the carrier to travel to the central station or station No. 5. This central station or station No. 5 has no diverting switching-slats, as itis placed at the end of the line and the carrier travels no farther. When the employee at the central station desires to return the carrier to the station from which it came or any other desired station, the adjustable switching-slide is placed opposite the figure representing the desired station on the line of figures marked out, which means the carrier is going in the outward direction on the line or away from the central station. It will be understood that the diverting switching-slats always divcrt the carrier to the right of the line of travel and when the adjustable switchingslide is in the position indicated by the figures on the incoming or outgoing lines of figures the adjustable switching-slide will pass all the diverting-slats on the track except the one with which it is intended to engage.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a conveying apparatus, an upper track, a lower track, a branch track from said upper track adapted to receive carriers switched from the upper track, a branch track from thelower track adapted to receive carriers switched from the lower track, and a tracksection in alinement with both said branch tracks for receiving the diverted carriers.

2. In a conveying apparatus, an upper track, a lower track, a branch track from said upper track adapted to receive carriers switched from the upper track, abranch track from the lower track adapted to receive carriers switched from the lower track, and a movable track-section normally in alinement with both said branch tracks and adapted to receive the diverted carriers from said branch tracks and adapted to be moved from said alinement to permit the removal of the carriers therefrom, and means forreturning said track-section to its normal position.

3. In a conveying apparatus, an upper riers switched from the lower track, a mov-' able track-section normally in alinement with both said branch tracks, and adapted to receive the diverted carriers from said branch tracks and adapt-ed to be moved from said alinement to permit the removal of the carriers therefrom, and a spring connected to said track-section at its opposite ends for returning it to its normal position.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a track, a carrier adapted to travel on said track, a branch track leading from said track, a series of fixed diverting switching-guides along said track and independent of said branch tracks, and switching mechanism on said carrier adapted to be adjusted thereon to engage with the diverting switching-guides at any desired station and consisting of a series of separated slats forming channels and an adjustable switching-slide adapted to enter said channels.

5. In a conveying apparatus, an upper track, a lower track, a branch track from said upper track adapted to receive carriers switched from the upper track, a branch track from the lower track adapted to receive carriers switched from the lower track,and means common to both said branch tracks for supporting the diverted carriers.

6. In a conveying apparatus, a track, a carrier adapted to travel on said track, a branch track leading from said track, a series of fixed diverting switching-guides along said track and independent of said branch track, and switching mechanism on said carrier adapted to be adjusted thereon to engage with the diverting switching-guides at any desired station and consisting of a series of separated slats forming channels and an adjustable,

switching-slide adapted to enter said channels, the said slide being provided with switch ing-pins adapted to engage said fixed diverting switching-guides.

7. In a conveying apparatus, two independ= ent tracks, a branch track from each of said tracks, a carrier adapted to travel on said tracks, a propelling-cable along saidinde pendent tracks, cable-gripping mechanism on said carrier adapted to connect the carrier to said cable and propel it along said independent tracks, means on each branch track for dis engaging the cable from said gripping mechanism, a series of fixed diverting switching guides along said independent tracks and independent of said branch tracks, and switching mechanism on said carrier adapted to be adjusted thereon to engage with the diverting switching-guides at any desired station.

8. In a conveying apparatus, two independent tracks, a branch track from each of said tracks, a carrier adapted to travel on said tracks, a propelling-cable along said independent tracks, cable-gripping mechanism on.

1o switching-guides at any desired station, and

means common to both'said branch tracks for supporting the diverted carriers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 24th day of I 5 September, A. D. 1898.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Vitnesses:

V. M. MACLELLAN, A. L. MESSER. 

